The Basics
Final Score: RV-Wright State 4, Detroit Mercy 2
Records: Detroit Mercy 1-9-0 (0-4 HL), Wright State 8-0-1 (3-0 HL)
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)
DETROIT (9/29/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team scored two second-half goals Saturday afternoon on Homecoming, but the Titans were unable to fend off Horizon League foe Wright State in a 4-2 setback from Titan Field.
Wright State, receiving votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll and unbeaten on the 2018 season, scored twice in the first half to take a 2-0 halftime lead and then added two more goals in the first five minutes of the second half to take a 4-0 lead.
Detroit Mercy found the back of the net on a rebound from freshman
Dominic Gatson, who buried his first collegiate goal in the 53rd minute of the contest after sophomore
Demetri Pliakos' initial shot was saved. Pliakos then stepped up on a penalty kick chance in the 73rd minute and connected on his first career goal to cut the deficit to 4-2. Pliakos finished the game with a career-best three points.
The Titans came out firing in the second half overall, recording 10 shots during the final 45 minutes of play. Detroit Mercy had three shots in the first five minutes of the second half, from
Daniel Iyok,
Kevin Tapchom and
Demetri Pliakos.
Later in the frame, following Gatson's goal, junior
James Solomon offered a look on net that was turned away on a diving save by Wright State's keeper.
In goal, freshman keeper
Devin Mendez turned away a season-best six shots, making several great saves on Wright State looks on net. He had two saves early in a scoreless game as the Titans kept the nation's second-ranked scoring offense off the scoreboard for much of the first half. Mendez then turned away three more shots in the final 12 minutes of the contest, which included a couple of diving saves.
Pliakos finished with a team-best three shots and two shots on goal to go along with his career-high three points. Gatson, with his goal, and Solomon and Tapchom had the other three shots on goal for the Titans, which were out-shot in the match 17-10.
Both teams had two corner kicks in the second half with WSU leading the overall advantage, 7-3. Four yellow cards were issued in the match, three of them to Detroit Mercy.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy stays at home for the next two games, hosting non-conference opponent Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday from Titan Field at 3 p.m. The Titans then host Green Bay at 1 p.m. next Saturday as part of a doubleheader with the Titan women's team.
